Core Beliefs
The following are the core beliefs of Calvary Chapel Anne Arundel based on the foundational truths taught in the bible. All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical doctrines.
The Bible
We Believe the Holy Bible is the inspired, infallible, and authoritative written Word of God. The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the foundation upon which the church operates and are the basis for which the church is governed. As such, the Word of God supersedes any earthly law contrary to biblical principles.
(Isaiah 28:13; Nehemiah 8:8; John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Peter 1:23-25; 2 Peter 1:3-4,21)
(Isaiah 28:13; Nehemiah 8:8; John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Peter 1:23-25; 2 Peter 1:3-4,21)
Triune God
The Bible says there is one true and living God, who created all things, upholds all things, and governs all things, eternally existing in three separate and distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The triune God is one in essence and three in person, existing in perfect unity and equality of glory, majesty, dominion, and power.
(Genesis 1:1, 26; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 44:8; Isaiah 48:16; Matthew 3:16-17; Matthew 28:19-20; John 10:30;
Hebrews 1:1-12; Jude 1:25)
(Genesis 1:1, 26; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 44:8; Isaiah 48:16; Matthew 3:16-17; Matthew 28:19-20; John 10:30;
Hebrews 1:1-12; Jude 1:25)
God the Father
The Bible says the Person of God the Father, is an infinite, eternal, personal Spirit, who is perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of people, hears and answers prayer, and saves from sin and death all those who come to Him through faith in Jesus Christ.
(Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalm 90:2; Psalm 102:27; Jeremiah 32:17; Habakkuk 1:13; Matthew 6:6-13; Matthew 10:29-31; John 3:16; John 4:24; Romans 5:10-11; Romans 11:33; 1 Timothy 1:17; Titus 1:3; 1 John 4:8)
(Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalm 90:2; Psalm 102:27; Jeremiah 32:17; Habakkuk 1:13; Matthew 6:6-13; Matthew 10:29-31; John 3:16; John 4:24; Romans 5:10-11; Romans 11:33; 1 Timothy 1:17; Titus 1:3; 1 John 4:8)
God the Son
The Bible says the Person of Jesus Christ, is the only begotten Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is forever fully God from eternity and fully man from His incarnation. The Bible affirms His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, teachings, substitutionary and atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven to the right hand of the Father, perpetual intercession for His people, and imminent return to Earth in power and glory to rule for a thousand years.
(Isaiah 7:14; Micah 5:2; Matthew 1:23; Mark 16:19; Luke 1:34-35; John 1:1-2, 14; John 8:58; John 11:25; John 20:28; Acts 2:22; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:8; Hebrews 4:15; 1 John 1:1-3; Revelation 1:8;
Revelation 19:11-20:6)
(Isaiah 7:14; Micah 5:2; Matthew 1:23; Mark 16:19; Luke 1:34-35; John 1:1-2, 14; John 8:58; John 11:25; John 20:28; Acts 2:22; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:8; Hebrews 4:15; 1 John 1:1-3; Revelation 1:8;
Revelation 19:11-20:6)
God the Holy Spirit
The Bible says the Person of the Holy Spirit, came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower for ministry all who believe in Christ. The Bible affirms that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ at the time of regeneration as an abiding helper, comforter, teacher, and guide. The Bible affirms that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a separate and distinct experience than that of regeneration, occurring either simultaneous with or subsequent to salvation, which is evidenced by a greater dynamic in the Christian’s life enabling him or her to be a bolder and more effective witness of Christ. The ministry of the Holy Spirit includes the enabling of Spirit-filled believers to exercise any or all gifts of the Spirit listed in the New Testament according to God’s will. The supreme evidence of the Spirit-filled life is the manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit.
(Luke 11:13; John 14:16-17, 26; John 16:7, 8-11, 13; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:13-14, 26; Romans 15:13; 1 Corinthians 3:16;
1 Corinthians 12-14; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 5:22-23; Hebrews 9:14; Titus 3:5)
(Luke 11:13; John 14:16-17, 26; John 16:7, 8-11, 13; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:13-14, 26; Romans 15:13; 1 Corinthians 3:16;
1 Corinthians 12-14; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 5:22-23; Hebrews 9:14; Titus 3:5)
Salvation
The Bible says that all people are sinners by nature and choice, falling short of God’s holy standard and breaking His divine commandants. Because of the exceeding sinfulness of human nature, all people absolutely need regeneration by the Holy Spirit through faith alone in Jesus Christ – His shed blood, His atoning death on the cross, and the hope given by His resurrection from the dead – according to the grace of God.
(John 3:16-19; Acts 3:19; Acts 20:21; Romans 3:23; Romans 5:8-9; Ephesians 2:1-3, 8-10; Titus 3:5; 1 John 2:1-2)
The Bible says there is a resurrection of both the saved and the lost – the saved unto everlasting life in the presence of God and the lost unto eternal damnation in separation from God. The Bible affirms there is a literal Heaven for those who place their faith in Jesus Christ and a literal Hell for those who reject Him.
(Psalm 9:17; Matthew 5:3, 22; Matthew 18:9; Matthew 25:31-34; Mark 9:42-49; Luke 12:5; John 3:18; John 5:28-29; Hebrews 12:23; 1 Peter 1:3-5; Revelation 14:9-11; Revelation 20:11-15)
(John 3:16-19; Acts 3:19; Acts 20:21; Romans 3:23; Romans 5:8-9; Ephesians 2:1-3, 8-10; Titus 3:5; 1 John 2:1-2)
The Bible says there is a resurrection of both the saved and the lost – the saved unto everlasting life in the presence of God and the lost unto eternal damnation in separation from God. The Bible affirms there is a literal Heaven for those who place their faith in Jesus Christ and a literal Hell for those who reject Him.
(Psalm 9:17; Matthew 5:3, 22; Matthew 18:9; Matthew 25:31-34; Mark 9:42-49; Luke 12:5; John 3:18; John 5:28-29; Hebrews 12:23; 1 Peter 1:3-5; Revelation 14:9-11; Revelation 20:11-15)
The Church
The Bible says the Church is the Body of Christ, the universal body of all born again believers of which Jesus Christ is the head. (Rom 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 4:15-16; Colossians 1:18)
The Bible says the Lord Jesus Christ instituted two ordinances for the church: the Lord’s Supper and water baptism. The Bible affirms that communion is a memorial celebration open to all believers in Jesus Christ and that baptism is conducted by full immersion in water as an act of obedience.
(Matthew 28:19; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:36-39; Romans 6:4; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Colossians 2:11-12)
The Bible says the Lord Jesus Christ instituted two ordinances for the church: the Lord’s Supper and water baptism. The Bible affirms that communion is a memorial celebration open to all believers in Jesus Christ and that baptism is conducted by full immersion in water as an act of obedience.
(Matthew 28:19; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:36-39; Romans 6:4; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Colossians 2:11-12)
Things to Come
The Bible says there is a pre-tribulation rapture of the church when all believers will meet the Lord in the air and be taken out of this world prior to the Great Tribulation that will come upon the whole Earth.
(Isaiah 26:20; Matthew 24:29-31; Luke 21:36; Romans 1:18; Romans 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Thessalonians 5:9; 2 Peter 2:7-9; Revelation 3:10; Revelation 5:7-10; Revelation 7:13-14)
The Bible says there is a second coming of Jesus Christ with His saints to rule the Earth for a thousand years. Christ’s second coming will be a physical, visible return to Earth to establish His millennial kingdom.
(Matthew 16:27; Acts 1:11; Revelation 19:11 – 20:15)
(Isaiah 26:20; Matthew 24:29-31; Luke 21:36; Romans 1:18; Romans 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Thessalonians 5:9; 2 Peter 2:7-9; Revelation 3:10; Revelation 5:7-10; Revelation 7:13-14)
The Bible says there is a second coming of Jesus Christ with His saints to rule the Earth for a thousand years. Christ’s second coming will be a physical, visible return to Earth to establish His millennial kingdom.
(Matthew 16:27; Acts 1:11; Revelation 19:11 – 20:15)
Life / Purpose
The Bible says that God created people as male and female to complement and complete one another. The Bible affirms God instituted monogamous marriage between a man and a woman as the foundation of the family and the basic structure of human society. As such, all marriage should be consistent with God’s standards according to the Bible.
(Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6; Romans 1:24-28; 1 Corinthians 5:11; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 18-20; 1 Corinthians 7:1-3, 8-9; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:3-7; 1 Timothy 1:9-11)
The Bible says God creates a person male or female (Genesis 1:27), and had a specific purpose and plan in His assigning of each person’s gender (Psalm 139:13-18).
The Bible says that life begins at conception (Psalm 139:13-18), that man is body and soul, therefore every baby in the womb is an eternal soul (1 Thessalonians 5:23) and will live forever. The Bible says that God makes every person in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) therefore is beyond measurable value in this world, and that no man has the right to take a life (Exodus 20:13, Matthew 5:21) whether in the womb or out of the womb, and there are no circumstances that justify taking the life of the baby (Deuteronomy 24:16). Having an abortion is not the unpardonable sin (Romans 8:38-39, Matthew 12:31-32) and God will forgive those who have an abortion if they seek God and ask for forgiveness and repent of their sin and ask Jesus Christ to be their Lord and Savior (John 3:16, Romans 10:9-13). Every child that dies in the womb enters into eternity because they were not of an age of accountability for sin (2 Samuel 12:22-23). It is the responsibility of the church to stand beside every woman in her pregnancy and provide love and support (Matthew 22:37-39).
(Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6; Romans 1:24-28; 1 Corinthians 5:11; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 18-20; 1 Corinthians 7:1-3, 8-9; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:3-7; 1 Timothy 1:9-11)
The Bible says God creates a person male or female (Genesis 1:27), and had a specific purpose and plan in His assigning of each person’s gender (Psalm 139:13-18).
The Bible says that life begins at conception (Psalm 139:13-18), that man is body and soul, therefore every baby in the womb is an eternal soul (1 Thessalonians 5:23) and will live forever. The Bible says that God makes every person in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) therefore is beyond measurable value in this world, and that no man has the right to take a life (Exodus 20:13, Matthew 5:21) whether in the womb or out of the womb, and there are no circumstances that justify taking the life of the baby (Deuteronomy 24:16). Having an abortion is not the unpardonable sin (Romans 8:38-39, Matthew 12:31-32) and God will forgive those who have an abortion if they seek God and ask for forgiveness and repent of their sin and ask Jesus Christ to be their Lord and Savior (John 3:16, Romans 10:9-13). Every child that dies in the womb enters into eternity because they were not of an age of accountability for sin (2 Samuel 12:22-23). It is the responsibility of the church to stand beside every woman in her pregnancy and provide love and support (Matthew 22:37-39).